Pakistan to handover chair of G-77, China to Cuba today

United Nations: Pakistan will hand over the chairmanship of the Group of 77 and China to Cuba Thursday, after completing its one-year term during which the world grappled with multiple economic and financial crises that especially affected the developing countries adversely.

These crises included the lingering COVID-19 pandemic, growing impacts of climate change, economic imbalances and rising debt distress, commodity price shocks and food insecurity, and persistent fragility and conflict—with the war in Ukraine currently exacerbating many deteriorating trends.

A founding member of G-77, which promotes the developing countries’ collective economic interests at the United Nations, Pakistan took over the chairmanship of G-77 from Guinea on January 14, 2022.

In this regard, a ceremony will be held at the Trusteeship Council chamber where the baton will be transferred to Cuba.

The program includes a video statement by Pakistan's Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari followed by remarks, through video-link, by Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermudez.

Among others, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres; Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, and UN General Assembly President Csaba Korosi will also address the event.

Other group members will also make statements.

Under Pakistan’s chairmanship, the Group has been instrumental in maintaining development at the heart of the United Nations and focus of development partners towards the triple crises faced by the developing countries.

Pakistan has held G77’s chairmanship four times — in 1976, 1992, 2007 and 2022.